In contemporary global tattoo culture, more and more talented women are making their mark — and the Russian tattoo community is no exception. Today, we’re pleased to present an interview with a promising, interesting, and talented tattoo artist — Kristina Darmaeva.
Kristina lives in St. Petersburg, where she works with the INK ME collective — a team of artists working in various stylistic directions of black tattooing.
She already has awards from international conventions, is a member of the Kwadron Pro Team, and actively travels across Europe as a guest artist.
Hello, Kristina! As is tradition in our interviews, I’d like to start with a question about how it all began. When and how did you get into tattooing? And what did you do before that?
— Hello! I got into tattooing quite unexpectedly — in the spring of 2012 :) My sister introduced me to a great tattoo artist in Saint Petersburg, and watching him work really inspired me to try tattooing myself. She convinced him to help me choose equipment and show me the basics. At that time, I hadn’t drawn in a while. I had graduated from an art-focused high school, but for some reason ended up getting a degree in radio engineering — and even worked at a large energy company for a while. So I urgently had to remember how to use a pencil :)
My mentor was a realism artist, and I was too shy to distract him. So, because of my overly responsible nature and fear of messing anything up, I ended up learning the basics on my own for quite some time :)
I believe that responsibility is one of the most important qualities in a tattoo artist :) I’m sure you remember your very first client — what did you feel when you made your first tattoo?
— Of course I remember — my first client was my dad, a heroic man :)) Naturally, I was very nervous. My hands were shaking, the machine felt incredibly heavy, and I was terrified of hurting him or ruining his skin. To make things worse, I somehow forgot the Vaseline! Since then, every time I prepare for a session, I take out the Vaseline with a mix of reverence and gratitude for the person who invented using it in tattooing :)
What tattoo styles and techniques have you worked with throughout your career?
— From the very beginning, I chose the path of black graphic tattooing — I love it. I think it's one of the most beautiful types of tattoo art. Once, out of curiosity, I tried to do a full-color Japanese-style sleeve with a dragon. I quickly realized it wasn't for me, although I sincerely admire Oriental tattooing. I’ve also tried watercolor-style pieces. And of course, I’ve gone through the “harsh school of life” with tribal tattoos, birds, letterings, etc. :)
And now that you're working exclusively with your own designs — tell us more about your style. What makes your tattoos truly yours?
— I feel like I’m still searching for my own style. It’s a lifelong journey. I want to try a lot of things :) But there are some constants I can already point out: scale, dynamic flow, flexibility, a preference for asymmetry, and clean forms. I believe that a large-scale, non-static image — like a leaping tiger without a background — will always look better on the skin than a detailed tiger set in an oval-shaped jungle frame.
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
— I love mythology — whether it’s Slavic or Japanese folklore — and I adore my collection of creepy Romani fairy tales with illustrations. I’m inspired by images of all sorts of mythical creatures — their textured skin, feathers, scales. Nature is also a huge source of inspiration: a forest at night, a storm rolling across a field — that’s pure magic :) I also love Gothic architecture. Recently, I’ve been immersed in the paintings of Vrubel. And sometimes, the most basic things help — sleep, rest, good food. That’s when the muse shows up the fastest :))
How would you characterize the year 2016 for yourself?
— 2016 was filled with positive experiences! I participated in several conventions in Russia and even won a few awards. I started traveling as a guest artist and made a lot of new friends. I’m also incredibly happy to have joined the Kwadron Pro Team.
Sounds like you’ve got even bigger plans for 2017?
— Oh yes, plenty of plans :) In March and April, I’ll be working in Germany. I’m also thinking of trying my hand at a Belgian convention — I’ve never been to a European one before. In summer, I’ll be participating in Russian festivals, and in August — I’ll be in Madrid. Also, our team at INK ME will continue organizing our charity walk-in days to support a Moscow shelter for disabled and senior dogs. These are dogs that no one is likely to adopt, so any help is greatly appreciated. We’re really happy that people are coming to these events!
And to wrap up — a slightly philosophical question :) Do you think the rapid development of tattooing in Russia is headed in the right direction? What do you foresee for the future of tattoo culture in the country?
— Development is always a good thing. I’m glad to see new talented artists emerging — people who can truly surprise and inspire. It’s a great motivator to keep growing and not get lazy :)
The only thing that really bothers me is the overly commercialized approach to tattoo education. So many beginners hope to become "masters" after 4 to 8 sessions — they just lose money. It’s a scam. Maybe I’ve watched too many kung fu movies, but I believe a real master should pass their knowledge on to someone who will truly put it to good use :)
It’s hard to make predictions, but I’m sure that as long as there are wonderfully passionate people inspired by tattooing — whether artists or collectors — our industry will keep moving forward :)
Kristina, thank you so much! It was a pleasure! Wishing you great vibes, inspiration, and many more victories!
— Thanks :)
Comments (0)